Puncturing device for containers



p 11, 1962 c. c. NEWMAN 3,052,978

PUNCTURING DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 18, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 04 //v TON c. NEW/144M Sept. I1, 1962 c, c, NEWMAN 3,052,978

PUNCTURING DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS Filed Aug.- 18, 196]; 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV EN TOR.

c4 //v7'a/v c. NEW/144M United States Patent Ofitice 3,952,973 Patented Sept. 11, 1962 3,652,978 PUNCTURING DEVHIE FDR CSNTAINERS Clinton C. Newman, 1959 Archer St., San Diego, Calif. Filed An". 18, 1961, Ser. No. 132,436 3 Claims. (Cl. 342-61) This invention relates to a device for puncturing cans and other similar containers and, more specifically, the instant invention pertains to the provision of a puncturing device to enable one to dispense the contents of the container and, at the same time, venting the interior of the container to the atmosphere.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a dual-bladed puncturing device which is operable to substantially simultaneously penetrate the end of a container to provide a dispensing orifice and a venting opening, and wherein the size of the orifice is greater than the size of the vent opening.

Another object of this invention i to provide a puncturing device of the type generally referred to supra, wherein the device, Without manual adjustment, may be utilized with containers of varying sizes.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a puncturing device which is manually operable with but one hand and wherein it is not necessary that a fixed stand be provided for the device or the container.

This invention contemplates, as a still further object thereof, the provision of puncturing means for containers which is non-complex in construction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture, and which is durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the instant invention will become more evident from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a container puncturing device constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the container puncturing device;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational View looking inwardly from the open end of the saddle support and illustrating the component elements of the container puncturing device in their respective inoperative positions;

FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view, similar to FIG- URE 3, but showing the component elements of the container puncturing device in their operative positions; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view of one of the cutter blades, FIGURE 5 being taken substantially on the horizontal plane of line 55 of FIG- URE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 1% indicates, in general, a puncturing device for containers, the puncturing device being constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. The device is seen to comprise an elongated substantially fiat rectangular arm 12 having an outer end depending portion 13 (see FIGURE 2) extending at an obtuse angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the arm 12. The other end of the arm 12 terminates in a bifurcation including an arcuately-shaped bight 14 from the ends of which extend a pair of elongated, longitudinally-extending, and confronting parallel arms 16, 18, having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration.

Reference numerals 29, 22 denote, in general, a pair of identically-formed brackets each of which includes a substantially rectangular base plate 24 having a pair of spaced looped ends 26, 28 projecting from a side thereof and forming a pair of aligned journals. To serve a function to be described, each of the base plates 24-, adjacent the inner ends of their respective journals 28 is formed with a transversely-extending opening 36 (see FIGURE 2), and each of the journals 26, 28 has formed therein lubricating passages 32, 34, respectively.

Conventional means, welding, for example, connect the base plates 24 to the remotely-disposed sides of the arms 16, 18 in such a manner that the journals 26, 28, reference being made to FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, project thereabove.

Reterence numeral 36 denotes an elongated L-shaped rod having its foot portion 38 journaled for rotation in the journals 26, 28 of the bracket 20. The leg portion 40 thereof extends in a straight line downwardly from its associated foot portion and toward the arm 12 to project therebeneath and therebeyond. A collar 42 is fixedly secured to the foot portion 38 by conventional means, an Allen set screw 44, for example, and rotates therewith. As is seen in the drawings, the collar 42 is interposed between the journals 26, 28 of the bracket 20 and thereby prevents the inadvertent removal of the foot portion 38 therefrom. A tapered container-punching-cutting blade 46 extends laterally and inwardly of the arms 16, 18, and is integral with or otherwise fixedly secured to the collar 42.

A helicoidal spring 48 is mounted on the arm portion 33 between the journal 28 and the adjacent end of the foot portion 40, the spring 4-8 having one of its ends 59 extending through the opening in the base plate 24 of the bracket 26. The other end 52 of the spring 48 is hooked about the foot portion 40 of the rod 36. Thus, and by reference to FIGURES 1 and 3, the rod 36 is seen to be constantly biased for movement in a clockwise direction.

Reference numeral 54 designates, in general, a second L-shaped rod having a foot portion 56 and a leg portion 58. The foot portion 56 is journaled for rotation in the journals 32, 34 of the bracket 22. The leg portion 58 extends in a straight line downwardly from its associated foot portion toward the arm 12 and leg portion 44 and crosses below the latter. The leg portion 58 terminates in an upwardly-bent end 60, the latter serving a function to be described infra.

Mounted on the foot portion 56 intermediate the journals 26, 28 of the bracket 22, is a collar 62 afiixed thereto for rotation therewith by means of Allen set screws 64 or by other desirable and feasible means.

' Projecting laterally from the collar 62 is a second tapered container-punching blade 66 disposed in confronting relation relative to the blade 46. The blade 66 is both longer and Wider than the blade 46, for reasons to be made clear below.

Surrounding the foot portion 56 between the journal 23 and the adjacent end of the foot portion 58 is a helicoidal spring 68 having one of its ends 70 anchored in the opening 39 formed in the base plate 24 of the bracket 22, and the other end 72 of the spring 68 is hooked about the foot portion 58 in such a manner as to constantly bias the rod 54 for rotation in a counterclockwise direction, reference being had to FIGURE 3 of the drawings.

A bell-crank lever 74 has one of its arms 76 pivotally mounted on a rivet 78 adjacent the other end of the arm 12, and the lever 74 includes a second arm 80 normally juxtaposed with respect to the arm 12 and being substantially parallel thereto. The arm 80 projects in the direction of the crossed rods 36, 54-, and has an upwardlyangled (see FIGURES 1 and 4) terminal end 32 which is normally disposed between the inner end of the arm 12 and the leg portion 58. The terminal end 82 is preferably enclosed in a casing 84 formed of an anti-friction material, such as Teflon, the casing 84 being held against displacement by a screw 86. The other arm 76 is rigidly connected to the concave side of an elongated concaveconvex trigger 96, the arm 76 and trigger 96 being down- Wardly and inwardly inclined toward the rods 36, 54, reference-being made to FIGURE 1 of the drawings.

To the depending end portion 13 of the arm 12 is secured the concave side of an elongated concave-convex handle 92 which extends at an acute angle relative" to the trigger 90 in its operative andinoperative positions. It will he noted that the trigger 90 and the handle 92 are so arranged and disposed so as to position their coneave sides ineonfr'onting relation relative to one another; To serve a purpose t'ohe described, the arm12'has depending therefrom the leg 94 of an L -shaped guide member 96 which includes a cam surface 98 confronting the terminal end 82 of the'ar'm 80 and its casing 84.

r In a manner to be more fully set forth below, the device also includes means for accommodating containers having varying diameters. To this end, a hanger bracket 100 having a substantially rectangular suspension plate 102 is provided, the plate 102 being fixedly secured to the outer side of the base plate 24 of the bracket 29. The suspension plate 102 includes a pair of longitudinallyspaced tubular supports 1'04, 106, which depend from one edge thereof (see FIGURE 2) in axially-spaced and aligned relationship. The tubular supports 1G4, 106 support the opposed ends of a pivot pin 108 that extends ther'ebetween. Pivotally mounted on the pin i108 and disposed between the supports 104, 196 is a sleeve 110 (see FIGURE 2') from which depends a substantially rectangular'flat shim plate 112 that is bent inwardly at an angle to extend below the lower edge of the arm 16. The function of the shim plate 112 will be set forth below.

In order to make the puncturing device 10 for cylindrical containers 114 readily accessible, the lower end of the handle 92 may be connected to one end of a linkchain 116, the other end of the chain terminating in a ring 118 adapted to engage over a hook (not shown) or other supporting means extending laterally from a wall or similar vertical support.

Having set forth in detail the component elements of a puncturing device, for containers, constructed in accordance with this invention, the operation of the same will be briefly described below.

Assuming that the several component elements of the instant invention are in their inoperative positions, as is shown in FIGURES 1 to 3, inclusive, and it is desired to puncture a closed end 114" of a cylindrical container 114 (see FIGURES 3 and. 4) in order to dispense a liquid contained therein therefrom, the top of the container 114 is inserted between the arms 16, 18 so that the end wall 114' thereof is disposed immediately below the blades 46, 66. The positioning of the container 114 may be accomplished either by moving the can or container 114 perpendicular of the longitudinal axes of the arms 16, 18, or the container 114 may be moved axially thereof by passing the same through the outer terminal ends of the arms 16, "18. To facilitate the latter movement of the container 114 relative to the arms 16, 18, the outer ends of the arms are beveled, as at 16', 18'.

Assuming now that the end Wall 114' of the container 114 has been positioned below the puncturing blades 46, 66, and assuming that the device 10 is held in one hand of the operator, with the trigger 9i) and the handle 92 being surrounded thereby, it is only necessary for the operator to draw the trigger 90 toward the handle 92 to efie'ct the operationof the device. When this movement takes place, the bell-crank lever 74 is rotated in a clockwise direction (reference being made to FIGURE 2) causing the terminal end 82 and its casing 84 to move downward-1y, and in so moving, the same first engages the leg 58 of the rod 54. This movement causes the blade 66 to rotate in a clockwise direction, reference being made to FIGURES 3 and 4, to initiate the puncturing of the end wall 114'. Continued downward movement of the terminal end 82 of the arm 80 will cause its engagement with the leg portion 40 of the rod 36 and cause the same to 3. rotate in a counterclockwise direction, there-by initiating the puncturing of the end wall 114' by the-blade 46.

As the bell-crank lever 74 continues to pivot in a c'loclgwise direction, the leg portions 4t), 58 of the rods 36, 54 continue to move apart, and the blades 46, 66 cut downwardly through the end Wall 114' to displace substantially triangular flaps 120, *1-22. I s p The blade 46, being smaller in length and width, is utilized to form a vent hole in the container wall H4, and since, as has been stated above, it is desired to form a larger dispensing opening in the wall 114', the throw of the blade 66 must be somewhat longer. This is accent-- plished by providing the end 60- of the leg portion 58, which is engageable by the extension 82 and its casing 84, after the extension 82 passes beyond the leg portion 58. This causes the flap 122 to be bent inwardly to a much greater degree than is the flap 12%.

Upon completion of the puncturing operation, the operator releases the trigger and the springs 48, 68 now return the blades 46, 66 and their associated rods to their original inoperative positions. The container 114 may then be withdrawn.

In the event the arm 8h tends to move laterally toward the arm 12 during the puncturing operation and become interlocked therebeneath, the extension or terminal end 82 thereof will first strike against the cam surface 98 of the guide member 96, thereby preventing the interlocking of-the two arms.

The shim plate 112 is maintained in its depending position, as is shown in full lines FIGURES 2, 3 and 4,

when the device 10 is to be used in puncturing. the end walls of containers 114 having relatively large diameters. However, when opening the end walls 114' of smaller diameter containers 114, the shim plate 112 may be pivoted upwardly to its dotteddine position shown in FIGURE 4 to cause the containers to fit more snugly between the arms :16, 18.

Having described and illustrated one embodiment of my invention in detail, it will be understood that the same is offered merely by way of example, and that this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for puncturing a closed end of a container comprising a bight having a pair of arms extending from the ends thereof to embnace said container adjacent said closed end, a puncturing blade pivotally mounted on eachof said arms for pivotal movement toward and away from said closed end, and manually-operable means for efiecting said pivotal movement.

2. A device for puncturing a closed end of a container comprising an elongated arm having a bifurcated end including an arcuate bight having a pair of arms extending from the ends thereof to embrace said container adjacent said closed end, a puncturing blade pivotally mounted on each of said pair of for movement toward and away from said closed end, said puncturing blades each being fixedly secured to a shaft joumaled for pivotal movement, respectively, on said pair of arms, and manually-operable means for effecting said pivotal movement.

3. A device for puncturing a closed end of a container comprising an elongated arm having a bifurcated end in:

cluding a central arcuate portion and a pair of spaced confronting arms to embrace said container adjacent said closed end, a shaft mounted for pivotal movement on each arm of said pair of arms, respectively, a puncturing blade fixedly secured on each of said shahts for movement therewith toward and away from said closed end of said container, and manually-operable means mounted on said elongated arm for effecting said pivotalmovement.

4. A device for penetrating the closed end of a container comprising an elongated first am having a bifur-. cated end terminating in an arcuate central portion having a pair of arms projecting from the ends thereof in spaced, parallel and confronting relation to embrace said container adjacent said closed end thereof, a pair or L- shaped shafts each having a leg and foot portions, means journalling the foot portion of each of said shafts, respectively, on one of said arms of said pair of arms, said leg portions of said shafts crossing one another, a puncturing blade fixedly secured to each of said foot portions for pivotal movement therewith, and means supported on said first arm for pivotal movement toward and away from said crossed leg portions of said shafts to eifect pivotal movement of said puncturing blades.

5. A device for puncturing a closed end of a container comprising an elongated first arm having a bifurcated end terminating in a centrally positioned arcuate bight having a pair of arms projecting from the ends thereof in spaced, parallel and confronting relation to embrace said container adjacent said closed end thereof, a pair of L-shaped shafts each having a leg and foot portions, means journalling the foot portion of each of said shafts, respectively, on one arm of said pair of arms, said leg portions of said shafts crossing one another, a punctun'ng blade fixedly secured to each of said foot portions for pivotal movement therewith toward and away from said closed end of said container, manually-operable means pivotally supported on said first arm adjacent the other end thereof for engagement with said crossed foot portions of said L-shaped shafts to effect pivotal movement of said blades into engagement with said closed end of said container, and resilient means carried on said foot portions constantly biasing said shafts for pivotal movement in a direction to move said blades away from said closed end of said container.

6. A device for puncturing a closed end of a container comprising an elongated first arm having a bifurcated end including a centrally-disposed arcuate bight having a pair of arms projecting from the ends thereof in spaced, parallel and confronting relation to embrace said container adjacent said closed end thereof, a pair of L-shaped shafts each having a leg and foot portions, means on each arm of said pair of arms to support, respectively, one of said foot portions of said shafts, said leg portions crossing one another adjacent said first arm, a can-puncturing blade secured to each foot portion, respectively, a bellcrank lever pivotally mounted on said first arm and having an arm thereof engageable with said crossed foot portions of said shafts, a handle member fixedly secured to said first arm, said bell-crank lever having a second arm proximate said handle, said handle and said second arm of said bell-crank lever being adapted to be manually grasped to effect pivotal movement of said bell-crank lever and consequent engagement of its said first arm with said crossed leg portions of said shafts whereby said puncturing blades are moved into engagement with said closed end of said container to puncture the same, and res-iiient means mounted on the foot portion of each of said shafts to effect rotation thereof in the opposite direction.

7. A device for puncturing the closed end of a container comprising an elongated substantially flat first arm having a bifurcated end including an arcuate centrallydisposed bight having a pair of arms projecting from the ends thereof in spaced, parallel and confronting relation, said arms being engageable about said container adjacent said closed end, said first arm having a handle fixedly secured thereto at the other end thereof and projecting laterally therefrom, an L-shaped shaft for each arm of said pair of arms, said shafts each having their respective foot portions journaled for pivotal movement on their respective associated arms, the leg portions of said shafts being inclined toward each other and crossed, resilient means mounted on each foot portion and connected With each leg portion to constantly bias said shafts for pivotal movement in one direction, a can-end puncturing blade for each of said foot portions, said blades being fixedly secured thereto for pivotal movement therewith, a manually-operable bell-crank lever having an arm thereof pivotally connected to said first arm adjacent said handle, said bell-crank lever having a second arm juxtaposed relative to said handle, and said bell-crank lever having a third arm for engagement with said crossed leg portions of said shafts to cause said shafts to pivot to force said bights into said container end against the tension of said resilient means.

8. A device of the type described in claim 7, and shim means pivotally connected to one arm of said pair of arms for movement ltherebetween.

No references cited. 

